Lirac

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The geographical zone comprises terraces and hillsides stretching from north-east to south-west, parallel to the axis of the Rhône, between the river and the limestone uplands covered by garrigue.
• The vineyard extends across four communes of the Gard department — Lirac, Roquemaure, Saint-Géniès-de-Comolas and Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres — at altitudes of between 50 and 200 metres.
• The Mediterranean climate is characterised by annual rainfall below 700 millimetres and high sunshine levels of 2,700 hours per year, particularly in summer during grape ripening.
• The Mistral, a cold, dry northerly wind, blows on average 180 days per year and keeps the vineyard healthy, in keeping with the character of the local Mediterranean climate.
• The upper terraces carry red clay soils with large rounded boulders derived from the Villafranchian terrace, giving way on the hillsides and lower slopes to skeletal loessic or rendzina-like calcareous clay soils, all of which are susceptible to summer drought.

• A decree of the King's Council dated 27 September 1729 imposed the use of chestnut-wood casks, and from 1737 the wine-growing communes branded their barrels before embarkation at the port of Roquemaure.
• The appellation d'origine contrôlée "Lirac" was recognised by decree on 14 October 1947, following a judicial ruling by the tribunal of Uzès on 11 October 1945, and was the first among the Crus des Côtes du Rhône to produce wines in all three colours.

• The red wines display a deep, intense colour, with complex aromas of ripe or cooked red and black fruits, combined with notes of spice, herbs and leather.
• The rosés are mainly produced by saignée and are distinguished by their freshness and roundness, with aromas of ripe red fruits.
• The white wines are made principally from the Clairette and Grenache blanc varieties, with floral aromas marked by garrigue and white fruits, and a long aromatic finish.
• Sorting of the harvest is mandatory in order to work with the highest-quality raw material possible.

• White grape varieties are planted on plots with calcareous soils, considered well suited to the production of white wines, while black grape varieties occupy deeper, well-drained clay soils that favour the power and structure of the red wines.
• The sunshine of the Rhodanian Mediterranean climate, reinforced by low summer rainfall, promotes good grape ripeness and high sugar levels in the berries, conducive to the natural production of generous wines.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 4 juillet 2024, JORF 7 juillet 2024
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Inter Rhône